Wells Cathedral, Choir stalls and Chorister desks c 1851-53
The renovation work at Wells cathedral started in March 1848 under the supervision of Architect Anthony Salvin. Later newspaper reports credit James Forsyth and another young sculptor, John Birnie Phillip, with the majority of the wood and stone carving involved at Wells. I cannot prove when James arrived in Wells or how he was known to Salvin to be given such a responsibility at the age of 21 but we know from the 1851 census that James was living in Wells
04.03.1852
The Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette reports upon Wells cathedral “We are happy to inform our readers that the restoration of the choir of this beautiful fabric is rapidly approaching completion. The stone stalls (41 in number) are nearly finished……the old misereres are worked in so that visitors will continue to be amused by these quaint carvings. The new bench ends are being executed in the spirit of the old work. The carved angels for the front of the chorister’s desks exhibit much taste “
10.11.1855
The Illustrated London News has an article on the now completed works at Wells Cathedral “The new stall work is of elaborate character. In each arch are five canopies of an early type, supported with detached shafts of Purbeck marble, polished; the canopy is of the simple gable form, containing a sub-ogee arch, which projects from the springing to the finial. These are richly carved with crockets, cusp ornaments and spandrils. Between each gable is a crocketed pinnacle, and the whole is borne on pretty little capitals, in which is some very successful carving, rendered from natural leaves. The carving was executed in part by Mr. J. B. Philip and partly by Mr. J. Forsyth. The last-named carver also produced the coped monument to the late Dean, and with Mr. Philip, has well proved his ability in carrying out such work “
All the photos below were taken by, and used with the permission of, John Harris
04.03.1852
The Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette reports upon Wells cathedral “We are happy to inform our readers that the restoration of the choir of this beautiful fabric is rapidly approaching completion. The stone stalls (41 in number) are nearly finished……the old misereres are worked in so that visitors will continue to be amused by these quaint carvings. The new bench ends are being executed in the spirit of the old work. The carved angels for the front of the chorister’s desks exhibit much taste “
10.11.1855
The Illustrated London News has an article on the now completed works at Wells Cathedral “The new stall work is of elaborate character. In each arch are five canopies of an early type, supported with detached shafts of Purbeck marble, polished; the canopy is of the simple gable form, containing a sub-ogee arch, which projects from the springing to the finial. These are richly carved with crockets, cusp ornaments and spandrils. Between each gable is a crocketed pinnacle, and the whole is borne on pretty little capitals, in which is some very successful carving, rendered from natural leaves. The carving was executed in part by Mr. J. B. Philip and partly by Mr. J. Forsyth. The last-named carver also produced the coped monument to the late Dean, and with Mr. Philip, has well proved his ability in carrying out such work “
All the photos below were taken by, and used with the permission of, John Harris
